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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Afghanistan: Suicide blast kills top police commander | Afghanistan: Suicide blast kills top police commander |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The police commander for northern Afghanistan has been killed in a suicide bomb attack on Takhar province governor's office, officials say. | The police commander for northern Afghanistan has been killed in a suicide bomb attack on Takhar province governor's office, officials say. |
| Gen Mohammad Daud Daud is one of at least seven people killed in the suicide bomb attack, police say. | Gen Mohammad Daud Daud is one of at least seven people killed in the suicide bomb attack, police say. |
| Western and Afghan troops are among "a significant number of casualties", a Nato spokesman said. | Western and Afghan troops are among "a significant number of casualties", a Nato spokesman said. |
| Gen Daud was former military commander of the Northern Alliance, the Afghan forces who fought the Taliban. | Gen Daud was former military commander of the Northern Alliance, the Afghan forces who fought the Taliban. |
| Afghanistan has seen a series of attacks in recent months by militants on police and military targets. | Afghanistan has seen a series of attacks in recent months by militants on police and military targets. |
| High-level meeting | High-level meeting |
| The latest attack will be seen as significant because it has struck an area of the country's north which has been seen as relatively secure. | The latest attack will be seen as significant because it has struck an area of the country's north which has been seen as relatively secure. |
| The BBC's Paul Wood in Kabul says the attack is a propaganda victory for the Taliban and a blow to wider, counter-insurgency efforts. | The BBC's Paul Wood in Kabul says the attack is a propaganda victory for the Taliban and a blow to wider, counter-insurgency efforts. |
| Powerful, charismatic, controversial - General Daud played a critical role as Afghan forces prepare to take over from Isaf in key cities this year. | |
| When I last saw him in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in March, he was calm and confident as he organised a major security operation during Nawroz (New Year) celebrations. | |
| Despite reports of suicide bombers in the city, there were no attacks. But he came under criticism weeks later when the UN compound was stormed by a violent mob. | |
| There were persistent allegations he played a key role in the drugs trade he was meant to stop. But his charm and capabilities won him allies among foreign forces - although some expressed suspicion there was an "agenda" of greater autonomy for the North. | |
| Gen Daud was in charge of all interior ministry forces in northern Afghanistan and is the most senior figure to be killed so far in a Taliban "spring offensive". | Gen Daud was in charge of all interior ministry forces in northern Afghanistan and is the most senior figure to be killed so far in a Taliban "spring offensive". |
| He was highly thought of by Nato, our correspondent adds. | He was highly thought of by Nato, our correspondent adds. |
| The latest attack occurred at the compound of Takhar provincial governor Abdul Jabar Taqwa, in Taloqan, while officials were having a meeting, a police spokesman said. | The latest attack occurred at the compound of Takhar provincial governor Abdul Jabar Taqwa, in Taloqan, while officials were having a meeting, a police spokesman said. |
| Seven people were killed in the explosion, including three German troops, a spokesman for the governor's office told AFP news agency, but this has not been confirmed. | Seven people were killed in the explosion, including three German troops, a spokesman for the governor's office told AFP news agency, but this has not been confirmed. |
| German troops are based in neighbouring Kunduz province, and have oversight of Takhar. | German troops are based in neighbouring Kunduz province, and have oversight of Takhar. |
| Shah Jahan Nuri, the provincial police chief, was among the victims, and the governor was injured, the spokesman added. | Shah Jahan Nuri, the provincial police chief, was among the victims, and the governor was injured, the spokesman added. |
| The Taliban has claimed it carried out the attack. | The Taliban has claimed it carried out the attack. |
| The top commander of foreign troops in north Afghanistan, Germany's General Markus Kneip, was in the compound at the time but survived the explosion, a Nato spokesman said. | The top commander of foreign troops in north Afghanistan, Germany's General Markus Kneip, was in the compound at the time but survived the explosion, a Nato spokesman said. |
| Gen Kneip was wounded, along with three of his soldiers, while two German troops were killed, according to German media reports. | Gen Kneip was wounded, along with three of his soldiers, while two German troops were killed, according to German media reports. |
| "We are aware of reports there has been an attack at the governor's palace in Taloqan, Takhar province," said Major Tim James, spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Kabul. | "We are aware of reports there has been an attack at the governor's palace in Taloqan, Takhar province," said Major Tim James, spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Kabul. |
| "Initial reports indicate there have been a number of Isaf and ANSF (Afghan National Security Force) casualties." | "Initial reports indicate there have been a number of Isaf and ANSF (Afghan National Security Force) casualties." |
| General Daud was a former deputy interior minister for narcotics. | General Daud was a former deputy interior minister for narcotics. |
| He had also served as the bodyguard to Ahmad Shah Massoud, who commanded the Northern Alliance. | He had also served as the bodyguard to Ahmad Shah Massoud, who commanded the Northern Alliance. |
| Takhar province was until recently a relatively quiet area of Afghanistan, but tensions rose in May after a Nato-led night raid in Taloqan which killed four people. | |
| A crowd of 2,000 people took to the streets to protest against the attack, claiming the victims were civilians. | |
| Nato said the group were insurgents. | |
| Police opened fire on the demonstrators, killing 12 people and wounding 80. | |
| A smaller protest the following day saw the provincial police chief's compound attacked. |